The Intruder (6 page)

Jake had to chuckle. "No, you didn't, sweetheart. It's good to see you feeling so much better."

"I guess," she was suddenly sad, and doubted she was hiding it from his too perceptive dark eyes.

"Kari, what are you thinking right now?" Jake asked quietly.

She made a face, but looked at him and answered truthfully, "It's time for you to go back to your life, Jake, and I am really going to miss you. I like you... a lot!"
Now, that was bold and brazen! And the truth!
she reminded herself.

Jake gave her the biggest smile ever and then reached across the table to take her hand in his. "I'm not going to give you a chance to miss me, sweetheart."

"You aren't?" she asked hopefully.

"I'm surprised that Ma didn't tell you," he admitted a bit sheepishly, but continued with determination, "The folks in Ma's family, clear back several generations, have had this strange ability to recognize the love of their life on sight. Ma felt that with Dad, Jase felt it with Gretchen, and Kari, I feel it with you." He smiled and asked, "I'm not frightening you, am I?"

"Oh no," she shook her head vigorously. "I feel the same way," she shocked him by admitting, and then she giggled. "I've so dreaded you leaving, and I was so afraid you'd say good-bye and be happy to be rid of me...! I've been a real pain as a patient."

"Wait until you get the chance to take care of me sometime. I'm a bear," he admitted and then laughed when her eyes went wide.

"Oh, Jake, you aren't feeling ill are you? Did you catch this from me?" she immediately wanted to know.

"No, I feel fine. I don't get sick often, but when I do, I'm worse than you could ever be, sweetheart."

"Do I get to spank you?" she asked with a giggle.

"You're welcome to try," he arched an eyebrow at her, and when she giggled again, he added, "I think you'd be the one to end up over my knee, however."

"Oh, I don't know. I was as weak as a kitten, and if you were that way, I might stand a chance... provided I called Jason and asked for help," she tacked on. That made Jake chuckle in amusement.

"Now, that might work, but you should realize that you'd both be in big trouble when I got well." The doorbell chimed and he was on his feet before she could move. "You stay put while I check that out."

If she was shocked when he drew his gun from his holster, she didn't let on. Jake was concerned about her neighbor for some reason, and his fears were making her paranoid. However, a few seconds later Jase followed Jake into the kitchen. "How are you feeling, Kari?" he asked with a smile for her.

"I'm all better," she said. "May I please go back to work tomorrow?"

"No. Not until Monday," he answered without hesitation. "It's important that you rest a lot this weekend, sweetheart. You don't want to go back to work tomorrow, and have a relapse. You were really ill, and if Jake hadn't been here with you, I would have admitted you to the hospital, and I'd just be releasing you today with orders to rest a lot today and tomorrow, and take it easy over the weekend." When she stuck her tongue out at him he chuckled. "Besides, brother is going to make sure you rest anyway."

"I know! He's impossible!" she quickly retorted, and Jason laughed outright before taking out his stethoscope and saying, "Let me listen, sweetheart." He listened to her heart and lungs and then checked her throat and ears. "You are much better, Kari," he smiled.

"Do you think I could take Kari to look at a couple of apartments tomorrow, Jase?" Jake wanted to know.

"Yes. But no more than a couple, and only if she feels up to it, and if they don't have a lot of stairs to wear her out."

"Got it. I thought I'd take her by Ma's place, too," Jake admitted.

"Sounds great." He took out a pad and wrote and then handed it to Kari. "This is a release for you to go back to work, sweetheart. You might not feel like working a full day on Monday or Tuesday," he warned, "So be prepared for that. If you feel worse, or start running a temperature again, you call me immediately."

"I will, Jason. Thank you so much for taking care of me, even when I got so nasty and was rude." She stood up to kiss him on the cheek.

"You're welcome, Kari. And," he gave Jake an apologetic look before saying bluntly, "it would please me to be the first to welcome you to the family. Now, if Jake hasn't talked to you yet about his feelings, you get on him until he does. None of the family wants him to let you slip away now that he's found you!"

Kari giggled, and then shocked Jason by answering, "I'm not going anywhere without Jake. I feel the same as he does. Like I was knocked over the head with a club and dragged off to a cave! It's as elementary as that. Jake and I belong together, even though I'm sure we're going to fight constantly until we get it all sorted out."

Jason laughed heartily and then said, "This is my cue to exit. Good luck, brother. You've got your hands full with this little lady."

Once Jase was safely out the door, Jake looked at Kari and said, "My family is totally crazy, sweetheart. They mean well, but they are crazy."

"Like my Dad," she nodded. She got up and started to clear the table, but Jake promptly swept her off her feet and sat her down again.

"You cooked, I'll clean up. It'll be good practice for the future. I'm one of those modern guys who thinks a husband should help out," he said with a perfectly straight face.

"Uh huh," she nodded. "Tell me another one."

"I'm wounded that you don't believe me," he teased her, and they continued like that until he was done straightening the kitchen. When he was finished, he came over to her and said seriously, "Do you trust me, sweetheart?"

"Of course I do!" she was amazed he would ask her that.

"Good. We're going to go into your bedroom and pack a few things for you to bring over to my place for the night. I promise my motives are gold, but I really do need to get out of here, Kari. Each day I'm here only increases the odds of your neighbor spotting me, and it would put your life in danger. I want to take you home with me where I know you'll be safe while I deal with Darles."

"Just what is it you think the man has done?" she asked curiously. When Jacob looked at her as if deciding whether or not he should tell her, she added, "I don't like to be treated like a child without a mind, or even worse, like a delicate female who can't handle the truth. Jacob, if we are going to make this work between us, it is going to mean sharing things with me... I won't wilt, I promise. I'm a lot tougher than I look."

Jake grinned and nodded. "We'll get you packed while we talk. Come on." As they headed for the bedroom, the doorbell rang again. "Go on into your room, sweetheart."

"Don't be ridiculous!" she snapped, and before Jacob could stop her, she reached the door and opened it without asking who was on the other side. "Yes?" she didn't recognize the man who quickly stepped inside her door.

"I live next door," Quincy Darles turned on the charm. "I've been remiss in introducing myself, and thought to remedy that." He was all smiles, until he saw Jacob standing there. His eyes narrowed imperceptibly and the lines around his mouth tightened, but his smile never faltered as his eyes darted from Jake to Kari and back again. "Well, friend, I wondered where you disappeared to," he said with easy charm. His cold gray eyes looked over at Kari once again and Jacob felt a chill clear to his soul. "Now I understand perfectly."

"Kari said she hadn't met any of her neighbors yet," Jake's voice was smooth as silk. "I wondered at that..."

Kari didn't know what the heck was transpiring between the two men, but Jake didn't look or sound like himself. He looked... dangerous and like the sort of man she'd steer clear of under normal circumstances. Something was going on, and she decided to keep quiet and let the two men settle it.

"Darlin', you go on in the bedroom and wait for me," Jacob ordered, his implied meaning very clear... and insulting. The look he flashed her warned her to obey him instantly, and the pat to her bottom made her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She found her legs carrying her into the other room. Once the door was closed, Jake looked at Quincy Darles and said in a low voice, "This is my territory, Darles. If you expect to do business, then back off."

"I don't know who the hell you think you are, James, but you don't tell me what to do... I tell you!" the man fairly hissed the words he was so angry.

"Tell that to someone who gives a fuck what you think," Jake returned in a cold voice. For two cents he'd like to rearrange the man piece by piece and then hang him out to dry in a dark corner of prison for the rest of his natural life, which wouldn't be long once word got out among the prison population.

"You did this on purpose, James. Right under my nose."

Jake gave him a cocky grin. "Still sore about the other night, Darles? I found another buyer who was willing to pay a fair price."

"You're a dead man, James."

"Like I was the other night when you arranged a meeting?" Jake scoffed. "I'm on to you, Darles. I know what you think, where you are, and what you plan on a daily basis, and I'll always be a step ahead of you. It's my business."

"You have someone in my organization!" Darles blurted furiously before quickly regaining his composure. "It would seem we have a standoff for now, James, but it won't be like this long, and then I'll hand you your balls on a silver platter and make you eat them!"

"Fuck you, Darles. Now get the hell out of here and let me get back to work." The door slammed and Jake knew he didn't have a moment to spare. If he wanted to protect Kari, he had to get her out of here, and fast! Darles would be calling his henchmen as soon as he was out of hearing.

Jake rushed into the bedroom to find that Kari was dressed in jeans and a sweater and was throwing things into a small bag. He was impressed. "We have to leave right now, sweetheart. No time to explain. Come on!" He grabbed the bag and her hand, and only paused long enough for her to grab her handbag and cell phone, and for him to get his laptop, which he shoved into his own bag before leading her out the back door to her small patio, which was hidden from Darles by a solid wall of fencing. "Don't talk now," he whispered, "and if I give an order, obey it as if your life depends on it, because it does."

Kari nodded. This was the Jacob she was in love with and trusted. That other man in her living room was undercover, and once she was over her initial anger at the crude way he sent her to her bedroom, she realized it was his way of protecting them both. She'd hurried to get dress and pack a few necessary items, positive they would be leaving as soon as he got rid of the slick and smooth talking Quincy Darles. Explanations could wait until they were safe and away from danger. She made herself keep pace with Jake, although her legs were feeling weaker by the second, and soon she was breathing hard and couldn't help slowing down.

Jacob realized that the little redhead was struggling to keep up and he cursed himself for leaving his car so far away, but he'd had no choice. He didn't dare draw attention to the fact that he was in Kari's apartment. Once he was positive they were out of Darles' sight, he stopped and said, "I'm going to carry you, sweetheart. It might not be too comfortable, but it is necessary. I'll buy you McDonald's later..." he promised, then, to her mortification, he bent low and scooped her over his shoulder and held her firmly in place with one arm around her legs while he fairly sprinted the two miles to the parking lot where his car was 'hidden'.

Kari couldn't believe it when he gently put her on her feet and reached into the pocket of his jeans for his car keys and didn't even appear to be breathing hard! How was that possible! She was breathless and didn't run the distance! He had the door of his sedan open within seconds and then tossed their bags and his laptop into the backseat before carefully picking her up and gently placing her on the car seat. As he placed the seatbelt around her he asked, "Are you holding up, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine, Jacob," she reassured him. "How could I be less than fine when I'm with you?" she asked lovingly, shocked by the strength of her feelings for the man.

"Don't you worry. You're safe; I won't let anyone or anything hurt you as long as I have one single breath left in my body." The words were a sacred vow, and he sealed his promise with a kiss before running around the car and hurrying them away from the neighborhood. "I have to make calls, sweetheart," he explained, taking out his cell phone. He hit one number and said impatiently, "Linda, it's Jake. I need to speak to Ma, no matter how busy she is." A few seconds later he said, "Ma, just listen. Don't go to Kari's apartment for any reason at all." He shook his head and rolled his eyes, "No, we did not break up. It's too dangerous there. Kari is with me and that's all I can tell you over the phone. Just stay at work and when you're done, go on home. Kari and I aren't at her place." He listened again, and then said, "I am sorry about the dishes, Ma. You buy whatever you need to replace them and I'll pay the bill. They aren't worth risking your life, do you hear me? This is not just your son you're talking to, Ma. It's a Police Lieutenant used to being obeyed." He listened once more, and then said, "I love you, too, Ma. And you bet I'll tell you everything as soon as I can. I need to call Jason now..." He said goodbye, and then called his brother. The conversation was much briefer because Jase didn't ask for explanations. "Thanks, bro. You bet I'll call if I need back-up." His third call was for reinforcements. Kari was impressed by the cooperation and respect he received.

By the time that call ended they were pulling into a gated community and Jake showed his badge to the guard on duty. The older man nodded, and greeted Jake by name, and said, "It's a shame this little gal is in some trouble, Lieutenant. If you need me, let me know."

"I will, Gus, and it's still Jake to you," he grinned.

"Even with that new shield?" the man teased.

"I should still be saluting you," Jake replied seriously, and then said to Kari, "Sweetheart, Gus took me in as a green rookie and partnered me. What I learned, I learned from him. You'll be safe here. Gus can spot trouble a mile away."